Belgrade
SerbiaCapital
- Population
- 1,273,651
- Currency
- RSDдин.101.8/$
Belgrade is the capital of the Republic of Serbia. It stands at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers, where the rolling Pannonian Plain fetches up against the rugged Balkan peninsula, and in 2022 had a population of 1.2 million, about a fifth of Serbia's total. It's a fascinating and friendly destination in its own right, and the obvious starting point for exploring more of Serbia and the Balkans.
Guide content adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Belgrade". Source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Weather
Live34°C
Clear sky · feels like 33°C
- 29%
- 13 km/h
- AQI 50
- SunMainly clear24° / 34°
- MonClear sky26° / 35°
- TueClear sky22° / 35°
- WedClear sky24° / 32°
- ThuClear sky20° / 30°
Measured at 44.804, 20.465 · Europe/Belgrade
Understand
The core of the city is on a bluff overlooking the confluence of the Sava and Danube. Both rivers are navigable by large vessels: the Sava up to Sisak in Croatia, and the Danube from the Black Sea all the way up to Kelheim in Bavaria. It's been inhabited at least since 6000 BC and the earliest recognisable town was the Celtic settlement of Singidūn. The bluff now called Kalmegdan was fortified and its environs grew into the White City, beo grad.
Belgrade has, however, suffered over 100 wars and was destroyed over 40 times. Those who've left their linguistic or cultural mark include the Slavs from 520 AD, the Ottoman Empire from 1521, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire from 1688. After the First World War, Belgrade became the seat of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, from 1929 known as Yugoslavia. That entity after the Second World War was under Tito's distinctive brand of communism until he died in 1980. The Balkans in the following years were roiled by internecine wars as Yugoslavia broke apart, and in 1999 NATO forces bombed Belgrade to force the independence of Kosovo.
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Serbia has not sought to join the EU, eurozone or Schengen area, but Belgrade presents a friendly face to western travellers, with English and German widely understood, and their bank cards accepted. Its overlapping layers of history and capital status create a fascinating vibrant blend. It's easy to reach and relatively inexpensive.
The majority of places of interest are within 2 km of the citadel of Kalmegdan. Belgrade's extension north of the Danube, Kotež, is an ugly sprawl. Novi Beograd is a modern business district west of the Sava, with transport hubs, shopping and entertainment - this page uses its local name to avoid confusion with terms such as "New Belgrade bus station".
Belgrade has a temperate continental climate, with hot rainy summers and cold snowy winters. Keep an eye on the weather forecast when planning your day, and dress accordingly. Košava is the fierce summer wind that's destroyed umbrellas and picnics on a scale that the city's multiple conquerors would admire.
Tourist information is available within the city library at Kneza Mihaila 56, next to the entrance to Kalmegdan. It's open daily 09:00-20:00.
Getting there
1 Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG IATA, Aerodrom Nikola Tesla Beograd) is how most visitors reach Serbia. Most flights are by Air Serbia, especially from other Balkan cities such as Ljubljana, Sarajevo, Skopje and Zagreb, and within Serbia from Niš and Kraljevo. Other airlines are mostly traditional "flag-carriers" such as Lufthansa. Serbia doesn't have the EU "open skies" philosophy, so Wizz is the only budget carrier. The airport, for practical purposes, has a single terminal. Arriving, you pass through the airside lounge before passport control and baggage reclaim. Currency exchange kiosks here give rates within 5% of official rate, good value anywhere. Departing, passport control comes straight after check-in, then you enter the airside lounge. There's retail and eating but little general seating. Each departure gate has its own security screen and cramped waiting area without toilets, a thoroughly awkward design.
Getting there and away: the airport is 18 km west of city centre.
- By bus:
- Bus 72 runs every 30 min to Novi Beograd railway and bus station then to Zeleni Venac near Republic Square. It's free and takes 50 min, running daily 05:00-23:30. The bus disembarks passengers outside Departures and then circles around to pick up from Arrivals on the level below.
- Bus 600 runs every 30-40 min to Central Train Station (Beograd Centar-Prokop) via Novi Beograd station, free of charge (Jan 2026).
- Minibus A1 runs between the airport and Slavija Square, stopping at Fontana (Novi Beograd) and the main bus station. The buses are comfortable and air-conditioned. The fare can be paid in Serbian dinars or in euros (RSD400 or €4, as of Jan 2026); pay the driver. The trip takes 30 minutes. This bus also runs at night, with a short break from around 02:00-04:00.
- By taxi: read the precautions described below. Taxi options from safest to least safe:
Buses are the best overland option from western Europe while the railway is being dug up. They run at least daily from Budapest (6-7 hours), Sarajevo (7 hours), Sofia (11 hours), Thessaloniki (10 hours via Niš and Skopje) and Timișoara (3 hours). Buses connect Belgrade to all the main cities of Serbia: some speed along the motorway, others wend and wind through small towns, so check: the next departure might not be the quickest. Quality of coaches is variable. They stop every 3 or 4 hours for a rest break - keep a close watch on your belongings at these stops, and on arrival be intensely suspicious of taxi touts and supposed luggage porters.
Flixbus is the main operator on long distance routes. Polazak is a portal for planning bus travel within Serbia: bus lines include Ozlem, Jugoprevoz Kruševac, Litas[dead link], Niš Ekspres, Dunav Prevoz, Severtrans, Lasta, Best Komerc, Božur and Kavim Jedinstvo.
Belgrade Bus Station or BAS (Београдска аутобуска станица) moved to Novi Beograd in 2024: it's at Antifašističke borbe 2, south across the street from Novi Beograd railway station. They've retained the ludicrous system of a charge of RSD300 to enter the platform area, which may be included in the fare, and you receive a plastic token or paper stub with a QR code to get through the gate. But if you buy your ticket online it's not included, and you have to buy a platform card in the terminal, from a separate kiosk with a queue so long that you'll probably miss the bus. You might also have to pay the bus driver an extra RSD100 per bag placed in the cargo compartment.
It's an hour walk from Belgrade Bus Station to the city center, better use public transport to get there.
The former downtown station on Karađorđeva has closed.
International trains have been a tale of woe for years as the track is dug up. Trains from Budapest are promised from Spring 2026, taking 3 hr 20 min. Until then the workaround is to travel from Budapest Nyugati to Szeged, change to a local train to Subotica, then a Serbian train via Novi Sad to Belgrade Centre (Beograd Centar). There are three connections a day, taking 7 hours.
Trains from Istanbul, Thessaloniki, Skopje, Sarajevo, Zagreb and Ljubljana have been suspended for years, take the bus.
A nightly sleeper Lovćen runs from Bar on the Montenegro coast, taking 11 hr via Podgorica and Bijelo Polje. It also transports cars, so from Belgrade Centre it rumbles onward to the car terminal at Zemun at the northwest edge of the city. There's also a daytime service Tara, better for admiring the mountain scenery, and you change trains at Bijelo Polje on the border.
Trains from Novi Sad run hourly and take one hour. From Subotica they're every hour or two taking 80 min. Four trains a day take 6 hours from Niš.
Tickets and timetables are available from the national operator SrbijaVoz, but only in Serbian.
2 Belgrade Centre railway station (Железничка станица Београд Центар / Železnička stanica Beograd Centar) finally opened in 2016, a tad beyond its original target of 1979. It was a national joke for decades and has been carefully placed 2 km south of downtown, with poor onward connections. It's nevertheless modern and clean, and known locally as Prokop station for its district.
3 Novi Beograd station (Нови Београд) is a stop for trains running west out of Centre Station towards Zemun, Novi Sad, Zvornik and Šid. It's more convenient than Centre for connections to city transport, and Belgrade Bus Station is south across the street.
Coming from north or south use Highway E-75. Ibarska magistrala M-22 is from Montenegro and the southwest. From the west (eg Zagreb and Ljubljana) use E-70. There are also major roads from Vršac and Zrenjanin.
Highways tolls are inexpensive: Serbia's only toll highways are parts of E-70 and E-75, which as A3 goes through the middle of Belgrade. If you're heading for Bulgaria or Greece via Niš, the signs will direct you onto A1 the southern bypass. But except in rush hour, it's just as quick to stay on A3 through the city. A1 is modern but undivided, and you're sure to fetch up behind a slow truckload of watermelons, as heavy goods vehicles are required to use this road and avoid city centre.
Belgrade is on European bicycle route Eurovelo 6 which connects the Atlantic Ocean and Black Sea. The route across Serbia is from Budapest via Osijek and Novi Sad to Belgrade, continuing east to Vidin.
Cruises along the Danube sometimes call at Belgrade, but there are no point-to-point ferries.
Getting around
Local public transport in Belgrade is free. This excludes trains, and express bus lines with an E route number.
GSP Beograde (ГСП) operates city buses, trams and trolleybuses. You can try to use their Beograd +plus app for timetables and live tracking, but it is a bit slow and cumbersome compared to your regular navigation app.
Buses are the mainstay of city transport, and you can get almost anywhere on them. Buses get very full at peak times, and some are full all day, notoriously the 26, 83 and 50. Their quality varies: those around the city centre or serving posh neighborhoods are usually newer air-conditioned vehicles, e.g. the Polish Solaris Urbino 18. Further out you may encounter some elderly specimens, e.g. the 30-year-old Ikarbus with wooden benches for seats.
There are two main bus terminals for local buses: the former intercity main bus station (Železnička 4; next to the disused railway station) for the west and southwest suburbs, and Zeleni Venac for the north (Zemun and Batajnica) and some western parts of the city (Banovo Brdo, Žarkovo, Čukarica). It's a steep ten-minute walk from the main bus station to Zeleni Venac, with no bus between.
Trams run along 11 routes. These all converge in the Slavija-Vukov Spomenik area except 11 and 13 which run to Novi Beograd. Line 2 orbits the centre. Some trams are modern from the 2020s, while others look like they're from the 1960s.
Trolleybuses follow 7 lines along two main corridors. One corridor is from Studentski trg (near Trg Republike) over Crveni Krst to Konjarnik and Medaković 3. The other is from Zvezdara to Banjica, plied by lines 40 (Banjica-Zvezdara), 41 (Studentski trg - Banjica) and 28 (Studentski trg - Zvezdara).
The suburban railway is called BG:Voz[dead link] (BG:Train). One line runs from Batajnica in the west through Zemun and Novi Beograd to Beograd Centar then swings north through Karađorđev Park and Vukov Spomenik to Ovča across the river. The other line runs south from Beograd Center via Rakovica to Resnik. Trains run every 30 minutes, 15 mins in rush hour.
Belgrade's metro project is a national joke. It's been talked about since the 1930s, with several great plans put forward, planning teams formed, and funding collaborations announced. Construction began in 2021 than abruptly stopped and has yet to resume.
Taxis are cheap by European standards, though far more expensive than anywhere else in Serbia. Car:Go is an Uber-like app and you can pay by card in the app. The other apps are Pink Taxi and Yandex Taxi. Note that they all require verification of your phone number by SMS, and they may not come through depending on your carrier.
Fares are regulated by the government and are 270 RSD to start a ride, 96-125 RSD per km (depending on time of day) and 20 RSD per minute of waiting time.
Taxi scams are common in Belgrade.
It is always best to order taxis via a smartphone app, since it will record the licence plates, and the whole ride. Apps will also give you an approximate price that you will need to pay (actual price might be up to 5% different).
Next option is to order taxi by phone, since your order will be saved in the operator's database. However, the information saved in the operator's database are not nearly as clear or as detailed as the one saved by smartphone apps, so that offers less protection for the customer.
Only take a taxi with a roof sign with the city coat of arms and a number, indicating it's a city-regulated radio taxi. Anything else is a private unregulated cab that may charge four times as much. Also, legal taxis must have licence plates ending with TX (e.g. BG-1234-TX).
Insist that the trip be metered; the only exception is if you take a taxi from the airport and buy a voucher with a fixed price. Tips to drivers are welcome but not required and your luggage is included in the metered price.
If you believe that a driver is trying to rip you off, call the operator of his taxi association to check if the price is regular for the specified distance. Afraid of the city inspection, they might call back the driver and bring him to reason. Also, ask for a signed bill indicating date, time, start and end destination, price and driver’s signature. Write down the number on the blue sign on the vehicle roof, as well as the license plate. Report the incident to city inspection (☏ ) and if you are going from or to the airport, also report it to the airport inspection (☏ , taxi@beg.aero). If the driver is aggressive towards you, call the police.
As in most of Europe you must keep to the right side of the road. Driving in Belgrade can be stressful. Avoid rush hours (08:30–9:30, 16:00-18:00). Plan your journey if you are going in to the city core, and expect to have a hard time finding a free parking place on the streets during Friday and Saturday evenings in the center. Garages might be a better choice.
Keep your low beam headlights turned on, during both day and night. Speed limit on the streets of the city is 50 km/h, near schools even less (30 km/h), on the highway is higher (up to 130 km/h). Police is known to wait at places where you might feel comfortable to drive over the limit, but almost never on the highway. Take special care while crossing Branko's bridge, and driving on following streets: Bulevar Mihaila Pupina, Jurija Gagarina, Vladimira Popovića, and other major ones. Keep your seat belts fastened. Other passengers must also do the same, even when sitting on the back seat (if there are seat belts installed).
Allowed level of blood alcohol content (BAC) is 0.03%, which is roughly equal to one drink. If you do go by car to drink, consider going back using taxi or Safe driver[dead link] service, ☏ . They will come to pick you up on the small, folding motorcycle, pack it in your trunk, and drive you back home in your car. Their charge is modest, and slightly higher than one-way ride with the taxi (RSD1150 for <10 km, RSD1550 for >10 km etc.). There are some other options such as Safe-Driver Beograd. Belgrade is known for nightlife, so if you find yourself in such a situation, this is a way to arrive home safely.
Yellow lanes are reserved for public transport, i.e. buses and taxis, and private vehicles may not use them. They're marked with a yellow line and on traffic signs. Some only apply during rush hours.
Car rental services are widely available both at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport and throughout the city. Local agencies often provide more affordable options compared to major international brands, especially for longer trips.
Examples of local providers include: Terminal Rent a Car, MS Rent a Car
Best option is to avoid bringing a car into the centre, next best is to use a parking garage. Street parking is difficult. There are four zones[dead link], clearly marked:
- Red Zone is the central spine from Student Square down to Takovska / Milosa Bvds. You may only stay one hour, RSD56. There are few spaces at the best of times, and with the closure of Republic Square and adjacent streets, it's impractical.
- Yellow Zone has spaces painted orange to avoid confusion with the standard yellow road markings. It cloaks the Red Zone, between George Washington Bvd east and the bus station west, and south just past Slavija Square. Maximum stay is two hours, RSD48 per hour.
- Green Zone is the rest of city centre, maximum stay 3 hours, RSD41 per hour.
- Blue Zone beyond has no limit but still charges RSD31 per hr or RSD150 per day. Spaces near main transport routes fill early as commuters park up for the day then take the bus to the office.
Parking charges apply M-F 07:00-21:00 and Sa 07:00-14:00 (in Blue Zone from 08:00). You can pay using a ticket machine, from a parking attendant, at a kiosk or by mobile phone. With a kiosk ticket, write down the parking time and display it inside your windscreen. By phone, text your car's plate number (e.g. BG123AA) to 9111 (red zone), 9112 (yellow) or 9113 (green). Every message you send buys you an hour. Five mins before the hour expires, you get a text warning, and the chance to renew if you're eligible to extend your parking for the next hour.
There are several large public garages for extended parking, e.g. there's one with 500 spaces under the old palace, across from the parliament building. They charge about RSD100 per hour.
Parking violations in the centre are swiftly pounced upon. Failure to pay in a marked spot results in a fine. With illegally parked vehicles, the traffic police are obliged to wait 15 minutes for the return of the driver, who'll have to pay a fine of €50. When 15 minutes are up, the car gets towed to one of four designated lots in the city, which you can locate using the online service[dead link]. At the lot, you will be required to present a valid form of ID and the vehicle registration documents, and pay the fine and towing expenses, €90 in total.
Old Belgrade is pretty hilly and the cycling infrastructure is scarce, so bicycle transport isn't in wide use. However, Novi Beograd and Zemun are relatively flat and offer enough space for bikes to be used. Bicycle tracks link Zemun, Dorćol, Ada Ciganlija, New Belgrade and Bežanijska kosa. There is a bike lift on Brankov Bridge operating 365 days and the ride is free of charge. There is also more than 50 bicycle racks around the city.
Riding a bike on the same roads with cars and buses is considered too dangerous, although on smaller streets it can be reasonably safe. Avoid riding on major (multilane) roads. You are not allowed to bring bikes into public transport vehicles.
Bicycle rentals are available mostly at recreational areas like Ada Ciganlija or Zemun quay. Average price is around €2/hour and €8/day.
Small boats connecting Ada Ciganlija to Novi Beograd's Block 70a are the only mode of public transport on rivers. Also, there are several tourist boats which offer day and night cruises along the Sava and Danube.
What to see
The historic core of the city.
- 1 Kalemegdan is the fortress, park and earliest settlement of Belgrade, on a bluff overlooking the confluence of the Danube and Sava. It's free to access 24 hours. Within its bounds are multiple sites including the military museum, a couple of churches, and a zoo.
- Military Museum (Војни Музеј) (within Fortress), ☏ . Tu-Su 10:00-17:00. Extensive collection of Serbia's military history. Good signage in English. Adult RSD350, con RSD250.
- Ružica church within the Fortress dates to the 15th century, was destroyed in the 18th century, rebuilt and again destroyed in World War I by the Central Powers. The present version was created in 1925, embellished by bronze soldiers guards in front of it and the unusual chandeliers made out of bullet shells, swords and bayonets. "Ružica" means little rose, though it's clad in ivy.
- Sveta Petka is a chapel next to Ružica built in 1937.
- 2 Belgrade Zoo, Mali Kalemegdan 8 (within Fortress), ☏ . Daily Apr-Oct 08:00–20:30, Nov-Mar 08:00–17:00. Popular, but with a lot of animals in a small space. Adult RSD700, child RSD500.
- 3 Belgrade Cathedral (Саборна Црква Светог Архангела Михаила), Kneza Sime Markovića, ☏ . Daily 07:00-20:00. The Cathedral Church of St Michael the Archangel is Orthodox, built 1837-40 in neoclassical style with a richly-decorated interior. Buried in front of the church are two notable Serbian linguists, Vuk Karadžić and Dositej Obradović. Free.
- Museum of the Serbian Orthodox Church (Музеј Српске Православне Цркве), Kneza Sime Markovića 6 (opposite Cathedral), ☏ . M-F 09:00-16:00. Museum of church history with frescoes, mosaics, and icons. Good signage in English. Adult RSD200.
- Residence of Princess Ljubica (Конак кнегиње Љубице), Kneza Sime Markovića 8, ☏ . Tu-Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 10:00-14:00. Built in 1830 as a grand residence for Ljubica Vukomanović (1788-1843), consort of Prince Miloš Obrenović. It remained in royal use to 1842. Since 1979 it's been a branch of the City Museum, exhibiting architecture and furnishings of the 19th century, when Serbia was in transition from Ottoman to European styles. Adult RSD200.
- National Bank of Serbia has a visitor centre and museum at Kralja Petra 12, a block east of the cathedral. You get to print banknotes with your own face: with the advent of cryptocurrency, the bank probably thought "what the hell". It's open M-F 10:00-16:00.
- Museum of Applied Art (Музеј примењене уметности), Vuka Karadžića 18 (200 m south of cathedral), ☏ . M-Sa 11:00-19:00. Displaying art and design from early history. Adult RSD400.
- Kneza Mihaila is the main pedestrian street. It's lined by elegant 19th century buildings, coursing south from Kalmegdan to Republic Square, such as Heritage House and Zepter Museum.
- 4 Zepter Museum, Kneza Mihaila 42, ☏ . Tu-F 12:00-20:00, Sa Su 10:00-20:00. Modern Serbian art. Adult RSD200.
- Heritage House (Кућа легата) is next to Zepter Museum at Kneza Mihaila 46. It hosts changing art exhibitions.
- 5 Ethnographic Museum, Studentski trg 13, ☏ . Th-Tu 10:00-20:00. Extensive display of Serbian costumes, tools, culture and everyday life in past centuries. Adult RSD200.
- Vuk & Dositej Museum is between the Ethnographic Museum and Bajrakli Mosque at Gospodar-Jevremova 21. It's a branch of National Museum (same hours) showing development of the Serbian language. Adult RSD200.
- 6 Bajrakli Mosque (Бајракли џамија), Gospodar Jevremova 11. 24 hours. Built around 1575 when Islam was the majority religion, it's now the only mosque in Belgrade. Bajrakli means "with flag" - the muwaqqit calculated the exact time of Islamic observances and hoisted a flag to advise the other city mosques, whereupon each muezzin called from their minaret to those within earshot. It's been smashed up several times, most recently in 2004 during the Kosovo conflict, but restored. Free.
- Chocolate Museum, Pjarona De Mondezira (block northwest of mosque), ☏ . Tu-Su 10:00-20:00. Chocolate's role in the story of the city, and you get to make your own. Adult RSD1200, child RSD900.
- Dorćol is the neighbourhood from the mosque down the slopes north to the Danube riverbank. The name is Turkish, dort yol means "four roads" or a crossroads, but it was rebuilt in Austrian style from 1717. The west end looks prosperous but the east end is grubby and industrial, as it's a busy river port.
- 7 Museum of Science and Technology (Музеј науке и технике), Skenderbegova 51, ☏ . Tu-Su 10:00-18:00. Gadgets, transport and machinery down the ages. Adult RSD400.
- 8 Church of St Alexander Nevsky (Црква Св Александра Невског), Cara Dušana 63. Daily 07:00-19:00. This Orthodox church was completed in 1929, replacing that of 1877. It has notable relics and frescoes.
- 9 National Museum (Народни Музеј), Trg republike 1а (Enter from side-street Vase Čarapića), ☏ . Tu W F Su 10:00-18:00, Th Sa 12:00-20:00. Founded in 1844, it has more than 400,000 items on 3 floors. It's organised into Paleolithic, Ancient History, Middle Ages and Modern. Adult RSD300, free on Sun.
- 10 Republic Square. The south side of the National Museum is the city's main plaza. The equestrian statue is of Prince Mihailo Obrenović (1823-1868), who negotiated the withdrawal of Ottoman troops from Belgrade. The city Cultural Centre also fronts onto the square. In spite of the imposing buildings, it's a drab concrete expanse thronged with traffic along Francuska.
- 11 Sukat Shalom Synagogue, Maršala Birjuzova 19. Sephardic Jews settled in Belgrade from the 16th century, as the Ottomans welcomed those fleeing Spanish persecution. The Ashkenazis arrived in numbers from the 19th century, escaping Tsarist Russia, and completed this synagogue in 1924. It's still active, but now closed to visitors because of the risk of attack. (It's the same story with the Jewish Museum at Kralja Petra 71a.)
- 12 Museum of Illusions, Nušićeva 11, ☏ . Daily 09:00-21:00. Family-friendly place with all the fairground usuals: distorting mirrors, Ames Room, and so on. Adult RSD900, child RSD650.
- Museum of the Paranormal is authentically hoaky, at Lomina 14, open daily 12:00-21:00.
- 13 Old Palace (Стари Двор), Dragoslava Jovanovića 2. This was the residence of the Obrenović and Karađorđević princely dynasties from 1884 until 1922. It now houses Belgrade City Assembly, no visits except on business.
- New Palace is just south of Old Palace on Andrićev Venac square. It was built 1911-22 for King Petar I Karađorđević, and is now the residence of the President of the Republic of Serbia.
- Ivo Andric Museum, Andrićev Venac 8 (behind New Palace), ☏ . Tu-Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 10:00-14:00. Museum in the home of Nobel laureate Ivo Andric (1892-1975). Adult RSD200.
- 14 Historical Museum of Serbia (Историјски Музеј Србије), Nikole Pasica 11, ☏ . Tu-Su 12:00-20:00. Huge collection of materials about the Serbian nation from ancient times to the present. In the coming years it's intended to move to new premises on the site of the former railway station. Adult RSD400.
- 15 National Assembly of Serbia (Narodna Skupština / Народна Скупштина), Trg Nikole Pašića 13. Grand neo-baroque legislative palace, built 1907-36.
- Postal Museum is a hidden oddity, at Majke Jevrosime 13 a block northeast of the National Assembly. It's open Tu W F Su 10:00-18:00, Th Sa 12:00-20:00.
- 16 St Mark's Church (Crkva Sv Marka / Црква Св Марка), Blv Kralja Aleksandra 17 (Tašmajdan Park). Daily 07:00-19:00. Large Serbian Orthodox church built 1931-40 in Serbo-Byzantine style. Within are the tombs of King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (1308-55), and of King Aleksandar I Obrenović (1876-1903) and his Queen Draga Mašin.
- Church of the Holy Trinity (Храм Свете Тројице), dwarfed by next-door St Mark's, is Russian Orthodox. It was built in 1924 for White Russians fleeing from the Bolsheviks after their civil war. It's open M-Sa 08:30-18:00.
- Museum of Roma Culture (Kuća romske kulture) is opposite St Mark's at Ruzveltova 54. It's open M-F 09:00-16:00.
- 17 Nikola Tesla Museum, Krunska 51, ☏ . M 10:00-18:00, Tu–Su 10:00-20:00. Nikola Tesla (Никола Тесла, 1856-1943) made huge contributions to electric engineering, pioneering alternative current (enabling long-distance high-energy transfers), radio (underpinning today's mobile comms) and AC motors as used in household and office machinery. Half of this small museum is dedicated to Tesla's personal effects, while the other half contains models of his inventions. English-speaking tours start at the full hour and include demonstrations. Long lines build up at peak hours. English guided tour RSD800, cash only.
- 18 Temple of Saint Sava (Hram Svetog Save / Храм Светог Саве), Krušedolska 2a. Daily 08:00-20:00. The largest church in Serbia and one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world, under construction since 1935 and still not entirely finished. It's described as a temple (Hram) to distinguish it from the smaller St Sava Church (Tsrkva) adjacent. The crypt (downstairs from the main entrance) is an extensive, bright and polished area with walls covered with modern iconography, so it looks more like a metro interchange for Orthodox saints than a religious building. Services are held regularly here and in the Church, which you can also visit. Free.
- 19 Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is at Hadži Melentijeva 75. It's Roman Catholic, and modern.
- 20 Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin (Црква Покрова Пресвете Богородице), Kajmakčalanska 55. Daily 07:00-19:00. Small Orthodox church built in 1933, in simple Serbian-Byzantine style. It's adorned with frescoes and mosaics, and has a rich collection of relics.
- 21 Presentation of the Virgin Monastery (Манастир Ваведења Пресвете Богородице), Ljube Jovanovića 8, ☏ . Orthodox monastery church built in 1935 in the Serbian-Byzantine style.
- House of King Petar I is a small museum and exhibition space 300 m west of the monastery at Vase Pelagića 40. There's nothing of the king himself here.
- 22 Museum of Yugoslavia and Tito's Mausoleum (House of Flowers / Kuća cveća), Mihaila Mike Jankovića 6 (Trolleybus #40 or #41), ☏ . Tu-Su 10:00-18:00. This is in 3 buildings. Old Museum is a general display of the history and culture of the former Yugoslavia. 25 May Museum is an oh-so-Sixties building named for the official birthdate of Josip Broz Tito (1892-1980). It displays presents given to him during his 27-year presidency: he amassed quite a collection of youth relay batons. House of Flowers is his mausoleum. Adult RSD600, student RSD300.
- 23 Museum of African Art, Andre Nikolića 14, ☏ . Daily 10:00-18:00. West African contemporary art. Adult RSD300.
- 24 Royal Palace (Краљевски двор). Apr-Nov Sa. Residence of the royal family of Serbia. You can only visit on a guided tour (in English or Serbian), booked through the Tourist Information Offices. The tour takes in the White Palace, with a large art collection. Adult RSD1500.
- 25 Banjica concentration camp, Veljka Lukića Kurjaka 33, ☏ . Th-Sa 10:00-17:00. This operated from July 1941 to October 1944 under Gestapo leadership; at least 3849 perished here. It's now a museum.
- 26 Rakovica Monastery (Манастир Раковица), Patrijarha Dimitrija 34 (11 km south, Bus 47 or 506/7). Daily 06:00-17:00. Built on its present site from 1600, the monastery's main structure is the Church of Archangel Michael. The other churches are modern.
- 27 White Hill (Vinča-Belo Brdo), Belo Brdo 17, Vinca (14 km southeast of Belgrade, Bus 307), ☏ . Apr-Oct Tu W F 10:00-16:00, Th 12:00-18:00, Sa Su 10:00-18:00. A large tell, a 10 m hillock of prehistoric settlements, mostly Neolithic. At weekends there are guided tours through the site. Adult RSD200, conc RSD100.
- 28 Mount Avala 16 km south of the city is a mountain of 511 m, topped by a telecoms tower. The tower was destroyed by NATO bombing during the Kosovo conflict but rebuilt in 2017. You can ride up to the observation deck for RSD500. Nearby is the Monument to the Unknown Soldier.
- 29 Museum of Contemporary Art, Ušće 10, ☏ , msub@msub.org.rs. W-M 11:00-19:00. Large museum of Yugoslav, Serbian and international art of the 20th century, in a striking modern building. Adult RSD600.
- 30 Great War Island (Велико ратно острво, Veliko ratno ostrvo) is the big triangular river island at the confluence of the Danube and Sava. Each summer the army builds a 300 m pontoon bridge from Zemun Quay, then removes it in autumn. It's a wildlife reserve, no buildings are permitted; illegal shacks repeatedly spring up to be swept away by floods before the city authorities can serve eviction notices. Wild boar from the island occasionally wander across to the mainland and make their way towards the swinish attractions of town.
- Little War Island (Malo ratno ostrvo) is much eroded, little more than a line of trees trying to keep their heads above water.
- 31 Gardoš is a hill in Zemun, topped by Gardoš Tower. Also known as Millennium Tower, this was one of seven erected to mark 1000 years of Hungarian settlement along the Danube. The neighbourhood was once part of Zemun Fortress and is now a district of narrow cobbled streets and old buildings.
- Zemun Cemetery ranges west of the tower. Laid out from the 1740s and still in use, it has Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Jewish sections.
- St Nicholas is an Orthodox church 100 m east of Gardoš Tower at Njegoševa 43. It was completed in 1752.
- Zemun Homeland Museum (авичајни музеј Земуна) is 500 m east of Gardoš Tower at Glavna 9. It's open Tu-Sa 12:00-20:00, Su 12:00-18:00 but there's not much in it.
- Zemun Quay stretches along the riverbank east of Gardoš, a pleasant area for strolling and eating.
- 32 Aeronautical Museum (Музеј Ваздухопловства) (next to airport, Bus 72). Closed for rebuilding until 2027. The main collection is in a striking geodesic glass building, with additional aircraft displayed on the surrounding grounds. The museum has over 200 aircraft flown by the Serbian and Yugoslav Air Forces, aero clubs and private & commercial aviation, from gliders to helicopters to jet fighters. There are a number of rare aircraft and other aviation equipment. The museum also displays relics of US and NATO aircraft "donated" during the 1990s Balkans conflicts, including wreckage from a US F-117 Nighthawk.
- 33 Chinese Cultural Centre, Belgrade (Кинески културни центар), Trešnjinog cveta 11 (near the embassy of Japan). A cultural centre built on the former site of the Chinese embassy to Yugoslavia, which was bombed by NATO forces in a so-called miscalculated operation in 1999. There is a plaque commemorating the Chinese journalists who died in the bombing.
- 34 Obedska bara (Обедска бара), 40 km west of Belgrade, is a large wetland and nature reserve along the north bank of the Sava River.
What to do
- 1 Belgrade Arena is a large multi-sports facility that also hosts concerts and similar events. It's on Blv Arsenija Čarnojevića west of the Sava in Novi Beograd.
- 2 Ada Ciganlija is a river island in the Sava extending 6 km east-west by 700 m north-south, fused to the city mainland since the 1960s and now a large park and recreation area. There are road links at its west and near its east end, while the east tip has a stairway to Ada Highway Bridge. The river loop on its south side between the road links is now a lake for bathing and water sports, with a gravel beach. The island has walking and cycling tracks, sports pitches, golf, and picnic and barbecue areas; camping is not permitted. No bus crosses onto the island but several run along the mainland shore.
- Badminton Centar is a sports complex at the east tip.
- Markoni Sport by the east road link hires bikes and has other sports gear.
- Ice skating: Winter City Ada is by the east road link, see below for other city sites.
- Veštačka Stena is a climbing wall 500 m west.
- Aqua Ski is west end of the lake.
- Ada Međica is a small river island 100 m north of Ada Ciganlija. No boats cross between them, you might find one from the north mainland bank.
- Luna Park is a chain of funfairs for younger children, with three sites in Belgrade: within Kalmegdan, on Zemun Quay west of the Sava, and 2 km southeast of the centre down Blv Kralja Aleksandra.
- Public Observatory (within Fortress). Four small telescopes enable daytime viewing of the city. On F Sa evenings from 20:30 if the sky is clear you can use the 110/2050 mm refractor and 200/2000 mm reflector for night viewing, with commentary and guidance from staff. The regular observatory is 3 km southeast in Zvezdara Park, and occasionally has guided tours. Adult RSD400, child free.
- National Theatre, Francuska 3 (next to National Museum), ☏ . This puts on opera, ballet and theatre. The main hall is worth looking in at, decorated with gilt and artwork.
- BITEF Theatre puts on contemporary and experimental work at Skver Mire Trailović, by Skadarlija Market.
- Bowling alleys: Žabac is a chain, with centres at Višnjička 70 ("Karaburma"), Patrijarha Joanikija 2a ("Vidikovac"), Stari Merkator Shopping Centre Zemun and Kocic Tennis Centre Zemun. These also have pool tables and darts. Colosseum Bowling is at Dobanovačka 56 in Zemun.
- Ice skating is available in winter at Ada Ciganlija as above, in Trg Nikole Pašića, at Pionir Ice Hall and Olimp Sports Centre.
- Yugoslav Film Archive shows contemporary art house movies and classics. It's a block southeast of Kalmegdan at Uzun Mirkova 1.
- MTS Dvorana is a multi-use venue at Dečanska 14, a block north of the Serbian History Museum.
- Tuckwood Cineplex is a small place at Kneza Miloša 7a, a block southwest of the National Assembly.
- Cineplexx Galerija is within Galerija shopping mall, on the Sava riverbank along Blv Vudro Vilson; it has an IMAX.
- Akademija 28 is a cinema and live arts venue 1 km south of the centre at Nemanjina 28.
- Cineplexx UŠĆE is within Usce shopping mall on Blv Mihajla Pupina, in Novi Beograd west of the Sava.
- Cineplexx Delta City is within Delta City shopping mall at Jurija Gagarina 16 in Novi Beograd.
- Roda Cineplex is a small grubby cinema 5 km southwest of the centre at Požeška 83a.
- Football: Belgrade has four clubs playing soccer in SuperLiga, the top tier, and several in lower tiers.
- Rugby Union: Three of Serbia's 12 top-tier clubs are based in Belgrade - Red Star, Rad and Partizan. Internationals are played at one of the big soccer stadiums. Serbia won their first international 8-3, a knockabout in 1918 between Serbian and British Colonies pupils at Heriot's School Edinburgh, but the century since has been pretty much all downhill.
- Others such as basketball or tennis are staged either in Belgrade Arena or Aleksandar Nikolic Hall aka Pionir Sports Complex.
- Dom Omladine is the Belgrade Youth Centre, at Makedonska 22 a block east of Republic Square. Their website lists events appealing to a young audience.
- 3 Belgrade Fair hosts trade fairs year-round - check their website for those open to the public. The exhibition halls are on Blv Vojvode Mišića on the Sava riverbank.
- Street of Open Heart is a carnival held on 1 January on Makedonska and Svetogorska streets.
- FEST is an international film festival in March.
- Guitar Art Festival is in May.
- Ring Ring is a festival of new and improvised music in May. They also organise Todo Mundo world music festival in Sep.
- Belgrade Burger Fest is in May within Kalmegdan Fortress. They mean the burgers you eat in a bun, not stout bourgeoise citizens.
- Belgrade Tango Encuentro is in June.
- Belgrade Beer Festival is in August in Ušće Park.
- BITEF Belgrade International Theater Festival is Sep / Oct.
- BEMUS is Belgrade Music Festival in October.
- Belgrade Jazz Festival is in October.
- Belgrade Early Music Festival is in November.
- No Sleep Festival features electronic, house & retro music in November.
Where to eat
For more on Serbian cuisine, see Serbia#Eat
Belgrade has restaurants for every budget, from traditional Serbian kafanas and neighbourhood bakeries to fine dining, international cuisine and vegan cafés. Prices are generally lower than in Western Europe, although some of the city's top restaurants are comparable to those in other European capitals.
Serbian cuisine is hearty and meat-heavy. You'll find grilled dishes such as ćevapi and pljeskavica almost everywhere, along with classics like karađorđeva šnicla, sarma (pickled cabbage leaves stuffed with minced meat and rice), podvarak (roasted sauerkraut with meat) and gulaš. Meals are often served with kajmak, ajvar, fresh bread and seasonal salads.
Being at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers, Belgrade also has a long tradition of freshwater fish. Many riverside restaurants and floating restaurants (splavovi), especially in Zemun, New Belgrade and around Ada Ciganlija, serve fish soup (riblja čorba), fish stew (riblji paprikaš), grilled carp, catfish, zander and perch. Some splavovi are quiet family restaurants during the day before turning into lively bars or clubs in the evening.
For breakfast or a quick meal, try burek (a flaky pastry filled with cheese, meat, spinach or potato), traditionally eaten with drinkable yoghurt. Bakeries (pekare) are everywhere and are a reliable option from early morning until late at night. Other popular street foods include pljeskavica, ćevapi, pizza by the slice and palačinke (crêpes).
A visit to a traditional kafana is as much about the atmosphere as the food. Many serve classic Serbian dishes accompanied by live folk or tamburica music in the evenings. The best-known concentration of traditional restaurants is in Skadarlija, although excellent kafanas can be found throughout the city.
If you have a sweet tooth, try krempita (custard slice), šampita (meringue cake), baklava, tulumbe or urmašice, all widely available in pastry shops and cafés.
- Zeleni Venac Market is a covered hall just south of Zeleni Venac bus station midtown, open M-Sa 07:00-19:00, Su 07:00-17:00.
- Bajloni Market is a larger hall at the junction of Džordža Vašingtona with Skadarska, open daily 06:00-19:00.
Some places think that a vegetarian eats fish. If you don't, tell them bez mesa, bez ribe - without meat, without fish.
- Tadich is a pie shop at Kralja Petra 75, open M-Sa 06:00-15:00.
- KMN, Zmaj Jovina 11 (Within Millennium Shopping Centre), ☏ . M-F 10:30-17:00. Great selection of domestic cuisine, including veggie. Friendly efficient staff.
- 1 Roll Bar, Obilićev venac 1, ☏ . Daily 08:00-00:00. Good quality, sizable portions. Try the imperial chicken and feta chicken.
- Pizzeria Trg, Makedonska 5 (east corner of Republic Square), ☏ . M-Th 10:00-00:30, F Sa 12:00-03:00, Su 12:30-00:30.. Delicious pizza and pancakes. Cash only.
- Yalla Yalla, Makedonska 11 (off Republic Square), ☏ . M-Sa 11:00-23:00, Su 12:00-22:00. Lebanese food.
- Skadarlijske kobasice, Skadarska 4 (block north of Yalla Yalla), ☏ . Daily 08:00-03:00. Excellent sausages.
- 2 Giros tim, Balkanska 36, ☏ . M-F 10:00-20:00, Su 12:00-20:00. Good gyros.
- 3 Amigo, Kraljice Natalije 35, ☏ . M-F 07:30-19:30, Sa 13:00-20:00. Very good fried pancakes.
- Gastroteka, Balkananska 29 (100 m north of Amigo), ☏ . M-F 09:00-17:00. Serbian fast food.
- 4 Jazzayoga, Kralja Aleksandra 48, ☏ . M-F 08:00-15:00. Sandwiches, wraps, juices, and baked goods, relaxing ambience.
- 5 Orašac, Blv Kralja Aleksandra 122, ☏ . Daily 09:00-00:00. A garden restaurant with trad Serbian cuisine.
- 6 Šešir moj (My Hat), Skadarska 21, ☏ . Daily 12:00-01:00. The hats are the natty boaters of the quartet, who riff away with barcarolles and other crowd-pleasers. Good hearty Serbian fare.
- Dva Jelena serves trad Serbian fare at Skadarska 32, open daily 10:00-01:00.
- Znak Pitanja (Question Mark), Kralja Petra 6 (by cathedral), ☏ . M-Th 12:00-21:00, F-Su 10:00-22:00. Traditional Serbian cuisine. Try ćevapčići sa kajmakom (grilled minced meat with cream), or if you have an adventurous stomach, try young bull's sex glands & bowels.
- 7 Loki, Strahinjića Bana 36, ☏ . Daily 10:00-00:00. Pljeskavici are Serbian burgers. Variety of toppings like spicy cheese or pickled peppers.
- 8 Mika Alas, Stari Obrenovački drum 14 (east bank of Sava 8 km from city), ☏ , mikaalas15@gmail.com. Daily 10:00-22:00. Try their delicious fish soup "riblja čorba" and their house specialty, "smuđ romanov", Pike Perch fillet in white wine cream sauce. Excellent food for an acceptable price.
- 9 Makao i Žuto More (Macao and Yellow Sea), Prve Pruge 8, Zemun, ☏ . Daily 11:30-23:00. Good Chinese food. They also have branches at Pere Velimirovića 7 downtown and Starine Novaka 7a near Tašmajdan Park.
- 10 Moon Sushi, Makedonska 31, ☏ . M-Sa 09:00-01:00, Su 09:00-23:00. Mostly good reviews for their sushi.
- 11 Marukoshi, Kapetan Mišina 37, ☏ . Tu-Su 11:00-23:00. Japanese restaurant with good-ish reviews.
- 12 Zapata, Vojvode Bogdana 13, ☏ . Daily 09:00-23:00. Friendly place for authentic Mexican fare.
- Burrito Madre is a chain with five city outlets, open daily 09:00-21:00: at Terazije 27, Karađorđeva 65, Blv Kralja Aleksandra 54, Svetozara Markovića 36, and Maksima Gorkog 9.
- 13 Botako, Šantićeva 8, ☏ . Daily 09:00-23:30. Good scores for Italian cuisine and ambiance. There's another branch south at Nevesinjska 6.
- 14 Casa Nova, Gospodar Jovanova 42a, ☏ . Daily 12:00-00:00. Good Franco-Italian fare with ample portions.
- 15 Restoran Caruso, Terazije 23/8, ☏ . M-Sa 09:00-00:00. Italian restaurant on 8th floor, with views over Terazije, river Sava and Novi Belgrade.
- 16 Sinđelić, Vojislava Ilića 86, ☏ . Daily 09:00-23:00. Traditional Serbian cuisine.
- 17 Šaran, Kej Oslobođenja 53, Zemun, ☏ . Tu W 16:00-01:00, Th-Su 13:00-01:00. Riverside fish restaurant with live trad music.
- 18 Lorenzo & Kakalamba, Cvijićeva 110, ☏ . Daily 12:00-00:00. Italian and southeastern Serbian cuisine, but mostly you come for the way-out decor, which is beyond kitsch.
Drinking & nightlife
City tap water is safe to drink. Creaky old buildings may still have lead piping, so run the tap a few seconds first.
Good domestic beers are Jelen, Lav, MB and Pils. Foreign beers are widely available and may be made under license in Serbia.
Wines from Serbia and other Balkan countries are good if you pay a little more for quality. Cheap stuff may be disappointing.
Rakija brandy is the national drink. The commonest is plum brandy, šljivovica or slivovitsa; other common varieties are grape, walnut, quince and pear. It can be bought in stores but Serbs insist that home-made rakjia is superior - look out for this at the food markets.
Always toast your companions in the proper manner. Look them in the eye, clink glasses, say Živeli! (cheers!) to all present as if you mean it, and take a sip. Repeat as necessary as the long night wears on.
Coffee is served Turkish-style unless you specify otherwise.
The main groups of bars and cafés are along Strahinjića Bana, along Obilićev Venac parallel to Knez Mihailova, and by the Sava and Danube riversides.
- Zuzu's is a cafe bar at Obilićev Venac 21 a block west of Republic Square, open daily 09:00-01:00.
- Gecko is an Irish pub at Obilićev Venac 17, open daily 08:00-00:00.
- Publin, Lomina 63. Daily 15:00-00:00. Relaxing small pub.
- Three Carrots Irish Pub, Kneza Miloša 16, ☏ . M-F 09:00-00:00, Sa Su 12:00-00:00. Cheerful pub with food & music.
- Black Turtle, Kosančićev Venac 30, ☏ . Su-Th 09:00-00:00, F Sa 09:00-01:00. Chain pub run by Black Turtle brewery, which has several other city outlets. Off-beat beers, e.g. mixed with lemon and blueberry syrup, as well as river views at summer sunset if you can grab an outdoor table.
Shopping
For Serbian currency, see Serbia#Buy. Menjačnica is a chain of exchange offices, with a dozen city sites.
- Delfi is a chain of bookstores, including English publications.
- Tržni centar is Serbian for "shopping centre" and there are dozens. The big three - UŠĆE, Delta City and Stadion - are some way from city centre. The closest are Rajićeva at Kneza Mihaila 54 by Kalmegdan, and Millennium at Kneza Mihaila 21, both open daily. The main supermarket chains are Maxi and Idea.
- 1 UŠĆE is the largest shopping mall in Serbia, open daily 10:00-22:00 with a great array of stores and a food court. It's at Blv Mihajla Pupina 4 in Novi Beograd, but just across Branko's Bridge so it's walking distance from the old city. Or take Tram 7, 9, 13 or any bus into Novi Beograd.
- 2 Delta City is the second largest. It's open daily 10:00-22:00 and has a cinema and food court. It's 1 km west of UŠĆE at Jurija Gagarina 16 in Novi Beograd, Tram 7, 9 or 13, Bus 95.
- Chinese Shopping Centre is 500 m west of Delta City in Blok 70 on Jurija Gagarina. The clothing is tat, but you can find Chinese food, spices and other exotica. It's open W-M 09:00-17:00.
- 3 Stadion is another large centre, 2 km southeast of city centre at Zaplanjska 32, take Bus 26. It's likewise open daily 10:00-22:00.
- Buvljak (Бувљак) means a flea market, occupying any edge-of-town brownfield site that developers have not yet cast covetous eyes on. Closest to the centre is at Šajkaška 70 in Zemun on Sunday morning.
Where to stay
- 1 Hostel 360, Knez Mihailova 21, ☏ , booking@hostel360.com. Cosy hostel just off Republic Square. B&B double €36.
- Hostelche, Kralja Petra 8 (by cathedral), ☏ , hostelchehostel@gmail.com. Clean, cozy place. They have free sheets, towels, laundry, games, books, Wi-Fi, welcome drink, coffee, and tea.
- 2 Sun Hostel, Novopazarska 25, ☏ . Well-run hostel, clean and spacious, with dorms, apt & private rooms. Comfy, a/c, safe-lockers backpack size, free internet, friendly staff. Dorm €30.
- 3 Fair and Square Hostel, Svetog Nikole 68 (Bus 65, 74), ☏ , fairandsquarehostel@gmail.com. Comfy rooms, large kitchen and public area as well as patio, friendly staff, cat and dog. Dorm bunk €25.
- 4 Balkan Soul Hostel, Kosančićev Venac 11a, ☏ , balkansoulhostel@gmail.com. Small but very social and cozy hostel with a well-equipped shared guest kitchen and lounge. Rooms have good air conditioning and wi-fi. Dorm €13.
- 5 ArkaBarka Floating Hostel, Zemun Quay, Novi Beograd, ☏ , arkabarkahostel@gmail.com. Friendly floating hostel on the Danube, with an on-board cafe-bar and sauna. Bunk & breakfast €42.
- Boatel Charlie and Green House are similar floating hostels just downstream.
- San Art Floating Hostel, Zemun Quay, Novi Beograd (100 m downstream from ArkaBarka), ☏ . Is it a chalet, is it a houseboat? Clean, well-run, friendly hostel near river confluence. B&B double €60.
- The Horse Monument Hostel, Čika Ljubina 1 (small street at northwest corner of Republic Square), ☏ . Check-in: 13:00-20:00, check-out: 10:30-12:00. A small hostel in the Old Town, close to Skadarlija bohemic neighborhood. Dorm bed 2000 RSD.
- Belgrade City Hotel, Savski trg 7 (Opposite bus station), ☏ , reservations@bgcityhotel.com. Central hotel in Neo-Renaissance building, with gym, restaurant and bar. Double (room only) €90.
- 6 Villa Forever, Marsala Birjuzova 44, ☏ , info@villa-forever.com. Basic place near Brankov Bridge. Double (room only) €80.
- 7 Slavija Hotel, Svetog Sava 2, ☏ , office@slavijahotel.com. Basic but central. On-site business center and sauna. The rooftop restaurant serves breakfast. B&B double €80.
- 8 Hotel Srbija, Ustanička 127c (3 km south of centre), ☏ , office@hotelsrbija.com. This weary old Soviet tower is where Air Serbia will put you if you miss a connection. Large restaurant on the 18th floor. B&B double €80.
- 9 Mercure Belgrade Excelsior, Kneza Milosa 5 (near National Assembly), ☏ , hB1E1@accor.com. Decent mid-town Accor chain hotel, rooms equipped with TV, mini-refrigerators, workspaces, and Wi-Fi. B&B double €110.
- 10 Royal Inn, Kralja Petra 56, ☏ , booking@royalinn.rs. One of the oldest hotels in Belgrade, dating to 1885, gets positive reviews. Rooms are small, but renovated and furnished with TV, air conditioning and mini-bar. B&B double €100.
- 11 Nevski Hotel, Venizelosova 24a, ☏ , reservations@hotelnevski.com. Comfortable central hotel, with business services and a good breakfast buffet. B&B double €80.
- 12 Design Hotel Mr President, Karadjordjeva 75 (Opposite bus station), ☏ . Comfortable modern hotel, 61 rooms with internet and standard facilities. B&B double €90.
- 13 Queen's Astoria Design Hotel, Milovana Milovanovića 1 (Opposite bus station), ☏ , hotel@astoria.rs. Central hotel with bistro. B&B double €110.
- 14 Hotel Rex, Sarajevska 37 (500 m south of main bus station), ☏ , info@hotelrex-belgrade.com. Comfy, central business-type hotel. Double (room only) €65.
- 15 Putnik Inn (formerly Tulip Inn), Palmira Toljatija 9, Novi Beograd (west bank, corner of Bvd Mihajla Pupina), ☏ . Decent 3 star business hotel. B&B double €90.
- 16 Belgrade Art Hotel, Knez Mihailova 27 (block west of National Museum), ☏ . Boutique hotel in very central spot, now part of Radisson chain. With 55 rooms and suites, bar, lounge bar, restaurant and 2 meeting rooms. B&B double €110.
- 17 Townhouse 27, Marsala Birjuzova 56 (100 m west of city hall), ☏ , hotel@townhouse27.com. Clean efficient 4-star in city centre. B&B double €140.
- 18 Crystal Hotel, Internacionalnih Brigada 9 (200 m south of St Sava), ☏ , info@crystalhotel.rs. Decent hotel with 44 rooms. B&B double €120.
- 19 Balkan Hotel, Prizrenska 2 (just north of Hotel Moskva), ☏ . Central functional hotel. B&B double €120.
- 20 Moskva, Balkanska 1, ☏ . Upmarket hotel in a landmark building. Rooms are stylish but small, and tall visitors should avoid the fifth floor, where the pitch of the roof closes in. Helpful multilingual staff. Excellent breakfast, with the piano tinkling over the eggs and pâtisserie - now this is what you call café society! (Especially with limited mobility, since you can enter via the café at street level and avoid the steps to the main hotel entrance.) Room safe & fridge, Wi-Fi & satellite TV. B&B double €140.
- 21 Hyatt Regency, Milentija Popovica 5, Novi Beograd (between Ušće Shopping Center and Crowne Plaza), ☏ . Big four star on west bank, spacious comfy rooms. B&B double €160.
- 22 Crowne Plaza, Vladimira Popovica 10, Novi Beograd, ☏ . Big glassy business hotel on the west bank, with fitness center and conference facilities, connected by passageway to the Sava congress & retail center. B&B double €150.
- 23 IN Hotel Belgrade, Bulevar Arsenija Carnojevica 56, Novi Beograd, ☏ . Boxy 4-star on west bank, good reviews for comfort & facilities. 200 m from Kombank Arena, handy for riverside life and highway out to airport. B&B double €120.
Staying safe
Overall, Belgrade is a pretty safe city, but like anywhere, you should always keep money, mobile phones, travel documents and other valuable personal items in secure places. Pickpocketers are known to operate in public transportation, and other crowded places so never wear a backpack or purse on your back and make sure that you have your wallet in one of your front pockets. If you own a car, it is preferable to have a security system. Traffic laws are usually observed although nervous drivers can change lanes suddenly or make dangerous turns when avoiding traffic during rush hour. So be cautious if you are a pedestrian or riding a bike. The taxi drivers are notorious for swerving in and out of lanes. Pay close attention to the traffic signals as a pedestrian.
Also try to avoid getting into conflicts. If you are staying out late in a bar or a club, there is always a small chance that someone will try to pick a fight especially if you are in a group and a single guy is showing hostility. That is a trap by local thugs looking for a brawl. Just ignore them and walk away no matter what they say or do. The chances that this will happen are very low, but stay alert. Do not try to make fun of the locals in your native language. Almost everyone has at least a basic understanding of English and is familiar with foul words and curses. Generally, common sense is the best way to stay safe in any city in Europe, and in Belgrade.
In Serbia, including Belgrade, violence against the LGBTQ population can occur, and as such LGBTQ travelers should exercise discretion. As a rule, public displays of affection between two people of the same sex are likely to be met with disapproval and sometimes verbal abuse and/or physical violence. There are several gay bars and clubs in the city and they tend to get quite full. Be cautious when arriving at or leaving such clubs. Often there is security personnel guarding the immediate entrance. There are also LGBTQ parties organized periodically by various organizations and at different locations, such as Loud and Queer events, so it is useful to follow LGBTQ guides to Belgrade and keep up with the current hotspots.
In case of an emergency, call 192 (police), 193 (fire) or 194 (ambulance). Always carry the phone number and an address of your embassy with you. In case of injury or illness, the place to go is the Urgentni centar (Emergency center), Pasterova 2 of the Clinical Center of Serbia. Be aware that not all medical facilities have personnel that speak English or other foreign languages. Consult the embassy of your country if possible.
Pharmacies on duty 24/7:
- Prvi maj, Kralja Milana 9, +381 11 3344-923
- Sveti Sava, Nemanjina 2, +381 11 2643-170
- Zemun, Glavna 34, +381 11 2618-582
- Dom Zdravlja Novi Beograd, Palmira Toljatija 7
Health
Belgrade's climate is generally temperate, so tourist visits are possible at any time of year. However, July and August can be uncomfortably hot, with temperatures reaching 40 °C (104 °F) on several days. Minimize your exposure to the sun on such days to avoid heat exhaustion. On the other hand, January and February are sometimes very cold. When it snows in winter, the streets are covered in sleet the next day, so be careful when walking. The Košava, a notorious Belgrade wind, may give you a cold more quickly than you would expect - take care and dress appropriately.
For runners, a sunrise or sunset run through Kalemegdan is a must-do. Running along the Ada lake in the mornings or evenings is a great experience too. Try to avoid running during the day, as it usually is both hot and very crowded.
There are a lot of stray animals roaming streets, particularly dogs. Whilst it is very rare that they demonstrate outward signs of illness or aggression, err on the side of caution and avoid coming in physical contact. These are nevertheless rarely seen in the city center.
Pharmacies – called 'apoteka' – are found throughout the city center. Look for lit green crosses on building façades. Some, such as the ones in Francuska or Kralja Milana streets, are open 24/7. These will carry a range of prescription medicines, as well as over-the-counter products like pain killers and vitamin supplements.
Staying connected
Belgrade and its approach highways have 4G from all three Serbian carriers, A1, MTS and Yettel. 5G is newly rolled out in major cities for all 3 carriers and should have good connectivity in the city centre.
All guide text on this page is adapted from Wikivoyage and reused under CC BY-SA 4.0. Prices and opening hours change — verify anything that matters before you rely on it.